Just Now: Alibaba Qianwen App Opens Public Beta, Aims to Be China’s ChatGPT | With Hands-on Test

Alibaba Officially Launches Qianwen APP Public Beta

A few days ago, leaks about Alibaba’s Qianwen Project suggested ambitions to build a personal AI assistant — Qianwen APP — based on the world’s leading open-source model Qwen3.

Now it’s official: Alibaba has announced that Qianwen APP’s public beta is live.

Beyond conversational smarts, a key goal will be “getting things done” — integrating AI into practical everyday tasks.

---

Quick Comparisons: Qianwen vs ChatGPT

We ran side-by-side tests to see what makes this newcomer confident.

Test 1: Classic Logic Puzzle

> There are three lights indoors and three switches outdoors, each switch controlling one lamp. You cannot see inside from outside. How can you determine which switch controls which lamp with only one trip inside?

Core Solution (Both Models):

• Turn on the first switch for a few minutes.
• Turn it off, then turn on the second switch.
• Enter the room:
• Lamp that’s lit → controlled by second switch.
• Lamp that’s off but warm → controlled by first switch.
• Lamp that’s off and cool → controlled by third switch.

Result: Both answered correctly.

Qianwen’s answer was more detailed, but given the simplicity of the puzzle, this round ended in a tie.

---

Test 2: Food Safety Question

Prompt: “Explain why different cutting boards and knives must be used for raw and cooked food.”

ChatGPT:

• Gave a short, accurate answer from its knowledge base.
• Covered cross-contamination and bacterial spread.
• Correct but basic.

Qianwen:

• Proactively searched online.
• Cited 14 authoritative sources.
• Added relevant images and articles.
• Provided richer, more supported content.

Result: Qianwen wins this round.

---

Test 3: Hardcore Coding Challenge

Prompt:

Create a single HTML file as a Game Boy emulator with:

• Full-feature emulation of classics (Tetris, Pokémon, Zelda)
• Touch + keyboard support

Observations:

• Qianwen: Better visuals; interface closely matches a Game Boy’s look and feel.
• ChatGPT: Less polished visuals; Tetris ran but only a single block could move — functionality incomplete.

Note: Building a full Game Boy emulator in one HTML file is extremely challenging; neither reached perfection.

Result: Tie.

---

Market Context & Strategy

Domestic vs Global Approaches

• ChatGPT: Operates largely independently — revenue via subscriptions and API calls.
• China’s AI assistants:
• Yuanbao: Directly usable in WeChat.
• Doubao: Integrated into Douyin content tools.
• Qianwen: Could naturally funnel into Taobao e-commerce.

> This “AI + X” model — AI plus e-commerce/social/content — offers far greater commercial potential than subscriptions alone.

---

Alibaba’s AI Background

• Historically B2B-focused in AI.
• Qwen: Strong technical foundation, most-downloaded open-source model globally.
• Weak general consumer presence — everyday users haven’t felt much impact yet.
• User loyalty is fragile — people use what works best.

---

Opportunity Window

• Must gain fame quickly or risk being left behind.
• Potential audience:
• Finds ChatGPT too costly or difficult to use.
• Prefers lower price, easier entry, robust multilingual support.
• Could carve out a unique niche if executed well.

---

Takeaway

Qianwen APP’s launch marks Alibaba’s serious entry into consumer AI, bridging the gap from labs to real daily use.

For users, more strong competitors benefits everyone — competition accelerates innovation.

---

Extra: AI Tools for Creators

For creators leveraging AI for content production, tools like AiToEarn unlock efficiency:

• Open-source platform for AI-powered content monetization
• Publish and earn across:
• Douyin, Kwai, WeChat, Bilibili, Rednote
• Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads
• YouTube, Pinterest, X (Twitter)
• Centralized creation + analytics
• Integrated model ranking (AI模型排名)

This taps into the “AI + X” ecosystem — the same strategy where Qianwen sees potential — and offers creators a tangible competitive edge.

---

Bottom line: With Qianwen now in beta, the real AI contest in everyday life is just beginning.